The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-07

down and looked with his glorious
eyes. full OF noble resolution, into my
face.
cousin mine, have awakened up
at last. / think / have found my
work. God willing, my strength, life
il need be. shall be given for my coun-
try. May my right arm wither at
my side when it refuses to hold the
flag a!oft, and the dear old Buckeye
State refuse to own me as u son when
l prove false to my duty"
He had shown me my duty. 1t was
/ that was the laggard, not he.
The work OF recruiting commenced
in earnest. We were very busy; the
recruits poured in fast; yet in all the
excitement OF the drill Lens eyes new
or flashed again as they did in my dull
little office when he invited me to join
him. He was always at his post, gen.
tlemanly, well dressed, perfectly at his
ease, taking in all the responsibilities
and difficulties of his new position
with the same indifference that char
acterized his whole life. His acquire
ment OF his new routine OF duty was
as easy as his mastery OF the accom-
plishments that made his life
so graceful and fascinating. He
gained the confidence and com.
plete mastery over the men in his
company. Strange to say they fairly
worshiped him. No officer OF the
corps was more rigid in his exaction
of drill duty than this polite, soft
spoken Hercules; but his patience,
his gentleness, and his care for the
comfort OF This boys" was something
marvellous.
But must hasten on lest l weary
you.
If you could have known him and
loved him as l did, you would not
wonder at me recounting his virtues:
it is all that is left me now.
Never shall forget our little battle.
Our company had been inactive for
some days. We had been held back
as O. reserve guard, and the men wait
ed in stern silence for the summons to
move. Leonard and |, side by side,
one OF the aids riding rapidly by us,
spoke few hurried words to him.
Without a word, with simple wave
OF the hand, he motioned his men to
follow. At q steady pace we advanc-
ed on, on to the weak point in the
column OF infantry before us. eau
tiously and softly we moved forward,
Leonard's eyes fixed in blaze oflight,
looking steadily forward, his lips set
in smile OF strange beauty, his pale
face stern, yet as beautiful as an aveng-
ing angels; these were my beacons to-
this march ofdeath. At small clear
ing he stopped, waited till the men
formed silently around him, then ris-
ing in his saddle, he raised his right
hand, armed with the heavy sword,
and in q voice clear, full, startling as
a trumpet's call, he gave the word.
"Charge!"
kept close beside him. In the wild
scene OF blood and carnage that fol-
lowed, his tall figure, his clear voice.
the sweeping strokes OF his powerful
arm were all my guides, my terrors.
The constant fear and dread OF his fall
ing haunted me. In the fury OF that
close combat his horse was killed, but
he arose unhurt to keep his place on
foot. Once, only once. he faltered; the
ground was sire we'd with the dead and
dying He was pressing forward heed
lees OF everything but the advancing
enemy, when man lying across his
path raised his hand and in faint
voice, implored Captain for Gods
sake don't tread on mel" Hestooped
to raise the sufferer in his arms. The
tears rained down his cheeks as the
poor fellows head Tell back dead.
"Mervin, I cannot bear thisl" In
another moment he rallied and dash
ed forward again. Soon missed him.
Through all thatylong dreadful day
he was away from my side. In the
night search, lantern in hand, trod
over the field, weary and heart sick.
searching with trembling hand. The
rays fell at last on the noble features,
the tall grand figure, the right arm
that had so nobly defended the flag
in that days struggle.
He lay quiet and still, the perfect
type OF manhood, grand and noble
in life. beautiful in death. My story
is ended, shall we 60? lam an old
man now and shall never visit his
grave again. ~
AS we turned from the grave pluck
ed leaf and bud from the rosebush
that bent over the grave, as a sad
sweet memento OF the hero who had
lost his life at the battle OF Murfrees-
boro.